Machine for operating on shoe counters



A. F. JACQUEMIN MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON SHOE COUNTERS Aug. 17, 1926.

Fi1ed Ju1y 21.1921 5 sheets-sheet 1 Aug. 17, 1926.

A. F. JACQUEMIN MACHINEFOR OPERATNG ON SHOE'OUNTERS Filed July 2l. 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 SNN A. F. JAcQuEMlN MACHINE FOR'OPERATING ON SHOE COUNTERS '-Aug. 1-7, 19,26.

5 ASheets-Skaai: 5

Filed Jul 21. 1921 Aug. 17, 19m

A. F. JACQUEMIN MACHINE FOR OPERATING N SHOE COUNTERS l Filed July 21. 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ivefai Aug. 17', 1926.

A. F. JACQUEMIN MACHINE FOR OPERATING oN SHOE COUNTERS Filed July 2l. 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

UNITED STATES ra'renr ePrice. c

AUGUSTE F. JACQUEMIN, OF KENNEBUNK, MAINE, ASSIGNGR T0 ROGERS FIBRE COM- PANY, 0F KENNEBUNK, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

MACHINE FOR OPERATNG ON SHOE COUNTERS.

Application led July 21,

This invention relates to machines for use in the manufacture of shoe counters and the like. The invention isespecially concerned with the problem of tempering fibre counter blanks prior to being molded although it will readily be appreciated from an understanding of the invention that some of its features may also be used to advantage in other machines for operating on counters or counter blanks.

The usual process of manufacturing a molded fibre counter consists, brieliy stated, in shaping the counter blank, tempering the blank, and molding it. That is, the blank is cut out of a. sheet of fibre board, the edges are bevelled, the ends usually are .released7 or ski ved. and the blank is next tempered or moistened preparatory to being molded. This tempering operation is designed to make the blank more pliable so that it will not break during the molding operation, and also to enable it to take the shape of the molds more readily and to permanently retain this shape.

According to the usual practice these blanks are tempered by dipping them in Water, a stack of the blanks usually being dipped simultaneously by hand. They are then allowed to `remain in a stacked or collected condition for several hours so that the water will penetrate the stock. It is important that the blanks shall neither be too wet not too dry at the time the molding operation is performed andone of the import-ant difficulties in carrying out this process is to control the degree of moisture, or in other words, the degree of temper. That is, in the usual hand process some of the counter blanks are very likely to receive much more water than others, with the result that when the majorityv of the blanks are in the proper condition for molding,

' others in the same batch are either too wet or too dry. Y

Vf ith these conditions in view it is the chief object of the present invention todevise a machine which will automatically perform the tempering operation. The invention aims not only to devise a satisfactory tempering or conditioning mechanism, but also to devise SimpleV and reliable. mechanisms for feeding' the blanks to the tempering` or conditioning means and for automatically stacking the blanks after they have been tempered or conditioned. It is con- 1921. serial No. 486,452.

templated that the feeding and stacking mechanisms can be used to advantage in other machines for operating on counter blanks and they like, as forinstance, in machines for printing the blanks, bevelling or releasing them, or otherwise modifying their condition.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. v v

Referring now to the drawings,

Figurel is a plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view substantially on the line 2 2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view substantially on the line 3 3, Fig. l;

F ig. t is a diagrammatic view showing the gear train for driving the tempering rolls;

Fig. 5 is a side'elevation of one of the links of the conveyor chain of the feeding mechanism Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the stacker mechanism 5 Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a portion of the table or support on which the counters are stacked;

Fig. 8 is a rear elevation of a portion of the magazine for the counter blanks and the mechanism for feeding the same, certain of the part-s being shown in cross sec.- tion; and

Fig. 9 is a vertical cross-sectionalview of part of this mechanism.

The machineshown comprises foui1 tempering rolls arranged inpairs, the upper and lower rolls of one pair being designated by the numerals 2 and 3, respectively, and those of the other pair by the numerals t and 5. rhese rolls preferably have rubber vsurfaces and they are provided lwith extensions or shafts which are supported in bearing blocks, certain of these blocks being indicated by the numeral 6, Fig. 3. These blocks are supported in verticaljguideways 7 7 formed in bearing brackets 8 8, Figs. l and, which are secured to the bed or base l0 of the machine. Cap plates 9 9 bolted to the upper edge of the bearing blocks 8 8 close the upper ends of the slots 7 7.

The construction at one end of the rolls is and form the bottom of the magazine these plates being supported by adjusting screws 51, Figy2, which are threaded into the plate 37 and serve as a convenient means for adjusting the level of the plates 50.

As shown in Fig. 1, the bottom of the magazine is divided into three parts, the central part being spaced from the members at opposite sides thereof by slots in which two conveyor belts or chains 53 53 are located. rllhese chains are supported on front and rear pairs of sprocket wheels designated at 54 and 55, Fig. 2, mounted, respectively, on shafts 56 and 57 supported in the opposite side pieces 36-36. A gear indicated diagrammatically at 58, Fig. 2, is mounted fast on the shaft 56 and is driven through additional gears 59, 60 and 61, the last of these gears being mounted fast on a shaft 62, Figs. 1 and 2, which is supported in bearings 63-63 secured to the base 10. This shaft is driven through bevel gears 64 and 65, Fig. 1, the latter gear being mounted fast on the end of the shaft which supports the roll 2.

This mechanism imparts a Continous motion to the chains 53-53 and it will be seen that each of these chains carries at interval-s a feeding link 66, the construction of which is best shown in Fig. 5. The upper surface of each of these links includes a straight horizontal portion 67, an upwardly inclined portion 68, and a hook or tooth 69 located at the upper end ofthe inclined portion 68. The rearward edges of the counter C are bevelled and as the upper reach of each chain 53 moves forward and one of the links 66 comes in contact with the bevelled edge of the `bottommost counter blankl in the stack, the edge of this blank will ride up on the incline 68 and be caught by the hook or tooth 69. This construction ensures the accurate engagement of each blank by the` hooks 69, notwithstanding slight bends or irregularities inthe shape of the blanks. These feeding teeth 66 are so spaced on the two chains 53-53 that the corresponding hooks of each chain will simultaneously engage the rearward edge of a counter, and as the chains continue to move forward these hooks will carry the lowermost counter blank out from under the other blanks in the stack, the next adjacent blank being prevented from moving with the lowermost blank by it contact with the friction members 52-52 of the gates 49-49. That is, the bar 38 is adjusted so that the lower edges of the parts 52 are normally just above the surface of the plates 50, leaving a slot only wide enough to permit the entrance of the bevelled edge of the lowermost blank. As this blank is carried forward by the hooks 69h69 the contact of the inclined edge cf this blank with the parts 52-52 lifts the gatos .t9-i9 slightly, this movement; permitting the lowermost blank t0 be carried forward out of the magazine. As soon as the blank has passed out from under the gates they can drop by gravity into their original positions. This mechanism thus operates with great certainty to prevent the feeding of more than one blank at a time.

When the lowermost blank in the magazine has been fed forward, as above described, itis delivered by the conveyor chains 53-53 to upper and lower feed rolls 71 and 72, respectively. The upper roll is in two sections, both fast on a shaft 73, while the lower roll is secured fast to a shaft 74 having a gear wheel 75 fixed thereto which is driven through a train of gears indicated at l 76, 77 and 78, Fig. 2, the last of these gears being fast on a shaft 79 having a gear 8O fiXed thereto which meshes with another gear 81 mounted fast on the sprocket wheel shaft 56. in order to allow the upper feed roll 71 to move up and down relatively to its cooperating lower roll 72, the` shaft 73 is mounted in the upper ends of two inclined links, one of which is shown at 83, Fig. 1, this link being pivoted on a bolt 85. The other link is similarly arranged. A pinion 7 5a is secured fast to the vshaft 73 and is driven by a gear fixed to the shaft 56. The feed rolls 71 and 72 revolve at a greater peripheral speed than the chains 53 and they take the counter blank out of the hooks 69 and shoot itl forward on to a supporting surface 90, Fig. 2,'formed partly on an upright plate 91 and partly on a bracket 92 bolted to said plate. This prevents the hooks from notching the rearward edges of the blanks. ln Fig. 2, C designates counter resting on this support. A shield 93 secured fast to the plate 91 overlies the portion of the surface 90 on which the counter is delivered and prevents the counters from being thrown over the upper edge ef the plate '91. A conveyor carries these counters forward and delivers them to the wetting or tempering rolls previously described. rEhis conveyor consists of a sprocket charL 94tprovided with feeding teeth 95 of the shape best shown in 3, this chain being supported on sprocket wheels 96 and 97 mounted near the opposite ends of the upright plate 91, and the upper reach of the chain runs in a groove 98, Fig. 2, formed in the bracket 92. The sprocket wheel 97 is mounted fast'on the end of a shaft 99 supported in bearings formed in a bracket 100, and this shaft'also has fixed to its opposite end a gear 101, Figs. 1 and l, which meshes with an idler gear 102 that is driven by the barrel pinion 26 previously referred to. lhis mechanism thus imparts a continuous nieve` ment to the chain 9a, ann-the driving mechanism for this chain is positively connected with the driving mechanism fcr the feeding chains .5S-53. The movements of these two chain-sare so timed that the conveyor 91 :car-vv ries the counter'blanks forward and delivers them to thewettmg'rolls asl rapidlyv as: theA chains' feed the blanks-out of the magazine.

The upright conveyor chain Silvie secured 'tast to the Jforward end ot aslide 1011, Fig. 1, whichl is mounted in a dove-tail groove formed in the bed plate 10. secured to, .or 'formed integral with, slide 10h/l. Agthreaded stem 105 is'secured to the Irear 7ard edge ot the slide and is engaged by axhand wheel 'which is mounted infaf Isuitable bracket secured to the bed 10 and therebyy held against movement' longitudi# nally of the stem orscrew Thrsiar# rangement enables thel operative to adjust the slide 104C and all the Iparts carried there-- by, including/the conveyor chain S11-'- and the driving; mechanism therefor, toward' and from the magazine. A .bolt 107 which project-s through a slot 108 `formed in the-slide 10e-and is threaded into the bed 10, serves to secure the plateinits adjustedA position. A. shortbracket 109, 'l3`ig.i2, isrsecuredrto the front of the magazine frame and overlies: a portion ot' the bracket92zwh'ere vit closes` the space between the magazine frame .and the second conveyor mechanism,. and prevents counter blanks from dropping down between'these-parts.

The blanks thus delivered to the two pairs of wett-ing rolls are vmoistened .b v their con' tact withthese rolls; The wettingirollsdeliver the blanks'to thefrolls 15 and 16 which strip the surplus-water 112. This table has an inclined partll on` which the blanks tall, one such' blankbeing. indicated at C, 6, andit ial'so has an extension 114 whichiis slantedsln'qjhth7 up. wardly. A' stop 115, Fig. 1, adjustably se'-y cured to the table 112 by bolts 116-116,'-

limits the forward movement'of theI blanks as thej,7 are delivered to the table. rlhisfstop has been omitted trom lFig. G. lie flat-wise on the inclined tace 113 and a reciprocating stacking. lever engages them while thea7 rest on this'ace,inoves'tliem `into an upright position, `and forces themuforward onto the horizontal surface of' the table 112. This lever comprises two arms 117-117, Figs. 1,l 3 and 6, both secured'ast on a rock shaft 11S su 3 aorted'in hanoers or plate V91 which supports-the- The brackety 100 also is this accidentally` from eachI blank land. discharge 1t on the upper suri'ace of .a'tabl'e rFliese lblanks" pinionu128. `-Jthat meshesffwith "ai barrel"A gear 129 fast. i oir Ithe shaft G2. above 'mentionedr Thev pivotal yconnectionsffbetween' thea-lower end of the leveri121 andthe link 120 is.

made through L a :block-i130 I which is adjust-1 able in afslotllvformed in .theendof the link, and this arrangement thus permits" an'adjustment o't the'vlimits-ot the stroke of] the reciprocating'stacker vlever 117.

Normallythelever117 lies below the-suref face-113, but immedfiatehTv after ka counter. blank C has Lbeen? deposited s on thisfsurtace the lever'is given a quickforward move@A m'entiby the mechanism .above described `thu'sf ca'lrisingiittoset thefeouiliter-fbliank up` onf edge and at the 'Sametime carryit forward'` onto the horizontal surtacelot vthe table 112.1v As this opera-tion is continued the blanks are: stacked horizontally, asindicated at G3, Fig.:

6, and this-stackis pushed 'forward' as eachl blank isfadded to it until thefstack-reachesf the extensionx 1113011theftableE-112;y A por-V tion ot' .'thisextension is inclined upwardltn as shown. sin'ee' llind .that the operation ot" the stacker mechanism is improved oy-'thief constructio'nsy ln ord'erzto' fa-cilitatetheaholding. 1ct 'the blanks'in their 'eclge'wise'position;`

that is, resting with their4 edges on the-supi1 port 112, af-presser; plate 133, Fie; 6,' is; mounted'to bear yieldin'gly-fonathe: upperA edgesot thesblanks'.' Thisiplateis hingedat"I 1341 to a part'135 adjustablyfsecured ley-ia bolt1136 'to an upright-i137 mounted t'aston the table i112.. The plate*alsoisprovided with `.anear 138to w'hi'ch'arodf139 lis piv? ote'd, this rrodibeing*encircled by'a spring 1110 that bearsat'its upper endV againstwa horizontalV extension-2141.v of thewpart 135. rllhe rod 139lprojectsl through this 'enten'-v sion. and is threaded to. receive nutsT 1412x105# means of whichthe plate 133canfbe= adjusted angula-rly with-reference to thecta'ble- 112. TheA spring` '140 presses*downwardly 'on the `'plate 133and1 thus maintains a slight pressureo-n the upper 4edges et the stack' of counters1C3, the stack "act-ing as affollower; Since: the bolt 186'- projects' through alslot-iformed'inthe standard 13'?,v thisv entire pressermechanism can'4 be ad` justed-up and down;

They entire stacker-1* mechanism,- V-includi ng the v'table 112, isfsupported on a bracketv 144, Fig."6,which-is.-adjustablv secured to 1115 and'146,'respectivelv, that rest onthe` table, the foot 141-5.sliding in' a guidewai7 formed in abarilay thatis rsecured to the table1 by a bolt1l8, and the `foot '1416 being` slotted to receive abo1lt149fb,v means ot which it 'mav be secured in adj usted Vposition to the bed 10. Thisrconstruction ena-bles the entire stacker mechanism to be adjusted toward and from the wetting or 'tempering mechanism. Ae threaded rod 150, also securedf'to'the-bracket 1114,' isengaged bya hand Wheel 151 to kfacilitate this adjusting 4operatiomthis adjustment being like that of the parts 105 and 106.

The table 112 also is adjustable With reference to the bracket 114 at right angles to the adjustment above described. That is, this table is provided With a tongue 153,11`igs. 3 and 6, that projects into a groove formed in the upper surface of the bracket 144, vand the table is slotted, as shown at 154, F ig. 1, tov4 receive a bolt 155 by means ofWhich it is secured in its adjusted relationship to the bracket 144.

An arm 156, F ig. 7, projecting from a portion of the bed 10, supports the outer end of the extension 144 but this part may be supported in any other suitable manner. The adjustments permit the stacking mechanism to be moved into any desired relationship to the tempering mechanism.

1t Will noW be understood that during the normal operation of the machine the feeding chains 5353 remove counter blanks one at f a time from the bottom of the magazine, ad-

' 113 of the table 112.

vancing these counters, in this vparticular instance with their straight edges foremost, against the edge of the part 91. @ne of the hooks 95 on the conveyor chain 94 engages each blank and carries it endyvise to the tempering rolls 2 to 6 inclusive. The blank here is dampened, the tempering rolls present it to the rolls 15 and v16, and these rolls deliver the blank to the inclined surface The stacker lever 117 moves this blank up into an approximately upright position on the table and these operations are repeated so long as the machine runs, the tempered blanks being forced outwardly along the extension 114 of the table.

It Will therefore be appreciated that this invention provides a completely automatic machine for taking blanks from al stack or supply, tempering them, and stacking them in readiness to be removed by an attendant. The machine thus reduces very greatly the labor that otherwise Would be required to perform the tempering operation, and it produces superior results since the tempering of the blanks is substantially uniform. It Will also be appreciated that the stacking and feeding mechanisms can be used in vother machines than that specifically disify their condition, mechanisml for feeding blanks successively from said supply to said operating means, a slightly inclined support, and means for receiving the blanks thereon as they are discharged from said operating means and subsequently stacking them upon edge.

In a. machine for operating on counter blanks and the like, the combination of a. vertical magazine for holding a supply of said blanks, means for operating on said blanks to modify theiry condition, mechanism for feeding the blanks one ata time from the bottom of said magazineto said means, and a reciprocating stacker to Which the blanks are horizontally delivered from said means and Which is operative to stack the conditioned blanks on edge. j

3. In a machine for operating on 'counter blanks and the like, the combination of means for holding arsupply of said blanks, means for operating on said blanks to temper them, mechanism for feeding blanks successively from said supply to said operating means, a table for receiving the blanks as they are discharged from said operating means, and mechanism for stacking the blanks With their4 edges resting on said table.

. 4. A machine for tempering counter blanks and the like comprising, in combination, a magazine for holding a stack of said blanks, means for tempering said blanks comprising4 opposed rolls and-means for supplying Water thereto from above, and mechanism for feeding said blanks successively from said stack to said tempering means.

5. A' machine for tempering counter blanks and the like comprising, 1n combination, a magazine for holding a stack of said blanks, means yincluding liquid rapplying rolls for tempering said blanks, mechanism for feeding said lblanks successively from said stack to said tempering means, and a stacking mechanism for receiving the blanks from said tempering means and stacking them.

6. A machine .for tempering counter' blanks and the like comprising, in combination, a magazine for holding a stack of said blanks, tempering rolls, means for driving said rolls, means for supplying a stream ofv Water to said rolls, and mechanism for feeding the blanks successively from said magazine to-said tempering rolls.

7. A machine for tempering counter blanks and the like comprising, in combination, a magazine for holding a stack of said blanks, a plurality of tempering rolls, means for driving said rolls, means for supplying Water to said rolls, mechanism for feeding said blanks successively from said magazine to said tempering rolls, a pair of additional rolls toWhich the blanks are delivered by said tempering rolls, and means for driving said additional rolls.

'6 messes 8. A machine for tempering counter blank-s andthe like comprising, in combination, a magazine for holding a stack of said blanks, wetting means for said blanks, mechanism for feeding the blanks successively from said magazine to said wetting means, rolls through which the blanks are passed after they have been wet, and means for driving said rolls.

I9. A machine for tempering counter blanks and the like comprising, in combina tion, a magazine for holding a stack of said blanks, a plurality of tempering rolls, mean-s forA driving said rolls, means for supplying Water to said rolls, mechanism for feeding said blanks successively from said magazine to said tempering rolls, an Iadditional pair of rolls to which the blanks are deli-ve-red by said tempering rolls, means for driving -said -additionalrolls7 and a stacking mechanism for said blanks to which they are delivered by said addi-tional rolls.

l0. In a machine for operating on coun' ter blanks and the like, the combination of a magazine for holding a supply of said blanks, mechanism for operating on said blanks to modify their condition, means for feeding the blanks edgeivise one at a time out of said magazine, and additional means for engaging each blank after it has been discharged from the magazine'and carrying it endvvise to said mechanism.

ll. A machine for tempering counter blanks and the like, comprising, in combination, a magazine for holding a stack of said blanks, means for tempering said blanks, means moving continuously in one direction for feeding blanks out of said magazine one at a time, a conveyor for carrying said blanks to said tempering means, and supporting means for said conveyor and said feeding means permitting a relative adjustment between them.

12. A machine for tempering `counter blanks and the like, comprising, in combination, a magazine for holding a stack of said blanks, means for tempering said blanks, mechanism for feeding said blanks edgewise one at a time out of said magazine, and a conveyor to which the blanks are delivered by said feeding mechanism, said conveyor being operative to carry the blanks endwise to said tempering means.

13. A machine for tempering connter blanks and the like, comprising, in combination, a magazine for holding a stack of said blanks, tempering means for said blanks including tempering rolls for engaging the opposite fac-es of a blank, driving mechanism for said rolls, mechanism for feeding said blanks edgewise one at a time out of said magazine, and a conveyor to which .the blanks are delivered by said feeding mechanism, said conveyor being opera-tive to carry the blanks endwise into engagement with said tempering rolls. A

14. A machine for tempering counter blanks and the like, comprising, in combination, a magazine for holding a stack of said blanks, tempering means for said blanks including tempering rolls for engaging the opposite faces of the blanks and a pair of stripper rolls between Which the blank is fed after leaving said tempering rolls, and mechanism for feeding counter blanks `one 2at a time out -of'said magazine and delivering them to said tempering rolls.

l5. A machine for tempering coun-ter blanks and the like, comprising, in combination, a magazine for holding a sta-ck lof said blanks, means for tempering said blanks, mechanism for feeding said blanks edge- Wise one at a time out of sai-d magazine, a conveyor to Which the blanks are delivered by said feeding mechanism, said conveyor being operative to carry the blanksrend- Wise to said tempering means, a support on to which said blanks are discharged from said tempering means in an inclined position, anda mechanism for stacking sai-d blanks ivith their edges resting on said support. Y

16. A machine for tempering counter blanks and the like, comprising, in combination, a magazine for holding -a sta-ck of said blanks, means for tempering said blanks, mechani-sm for feeding said blanks one at a time out of said magazine and 'delivering them endivise to said tempering means, and

a reciprocating stacker to which said blanks are deliver-ed from said tempering means. l?. A machine for tempering counter blanks and the like, comprising, in combination, a magazine for hol-ding a stack of said blanks, means for tempering said blanks, mechanism for feeding said blanks one at a time out of said magazine and delivering them to said tempering means, yand a stack ing mechanism to which said blanks are horizontally delivered from said tempering means, said stacking mechanism being operative to arrange the tempered blanks on edge in a substantially horizontal stack.

AUGUSTE F. JACQUEMIN. 

